“It is important for the team and the Brazilian fans that at the moment all my focus is on winning the Confederations Cup - but after the tournament is finished I hope it is a deal that can get finalised quickly,” Paulinho told The Daily Mail this week.

“To play in England for a great team like Tottenham is a dream. What I respect about Tottenham is the ambition they have shown.”

The 24-year-old has also indicated that the Premier League club have assured him that the highly coveted Bale, also linked with the Santiago Bernabeu this summer, won’t be leaving White Hart Lane.

“This summer there has been interest in their Coach and their best player [Bale] - and they have been clear they both are not going anywhere.

“When my agent made me aware that Tottenham were interested I knew it would not be a move that I could turn down.”

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